Darren Dunn

The Kid from Bellavista Crescent who Dared to Dream

The Kid from Bellavista Crescent who Dared to Dream

by Bob Gates In a 1989 interview Darren Dunn told Paul Turney of the Daily Racing Form (DRF) that he was 11 years old when he heard his first race. "It was an exciting confrontation between Northern Diamond and Picatune and when I heard the announcer I fantasized,...

A Salute to Assiniboia Downs

A Salute to Assiniboia Downs

by Bob Gates "The time has come," the Walrus said,                       "To talk of many things:                       Of shoes - and ships - and sealing-wax -                       Of cabbages and kings -                       And why the sea is boiling hot -...

Celebrating 64 Years of the Gold Cup

Celebrating 64 Years of the Gold Cup

  by Bob Gates One of the many challenges facing Jack Hardy when he opened Assiniboia Downs in 1958 was to establish races that would grow into annual contests steeped in tradition. In the first year of operation the only signature race with "tradition" was the...

Fergie, the Jets and Assiniboia Downs – A Love Story

Fergie, the Jets and Assiniboia Downs – A Love Story

by Bob Gates Ten years ago, Mark Chipman announced the purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers, and the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 were born. What a great opportunity to pay homage to the man who played a vital role in obtaining a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise for our fair...

Husbands wins 4 on opening night 2016 at ASD, Wagering doubles

Husbands wins 4 on opening night 2016 at ASD, Wagering doubles

Jockey Chris Husbands won four of the eight races on Mothers' Day opening night 2016 at Assiniboia Downs; trainer Tom Gardipy Jr. scored a hat trick, and trainer Gary Danelson bookended the card with wins in the first (Don Gray Memorial) and eighth races in front of a...

A Tale of Two Wolves for 2016 Opening Day at ASD

A Tale of Two Wolves for 2016 Opening Day at ASD

by Bob Gates The 2016 live racing season kicks off on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, as has become our custom at Assiniboia Downs, and have I got a story for you. It goes like this: An old Cherokee told his grandson, "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside...

Peguis First Nation – Manitoba Jockey Club Announces Joint Venture

3975 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3K 2E9 Phone: (204) 885-3330 Fax: (204) 831-5348 Email: info@fndevelopments.ca Peguis First Nation - Manitoba Jockey Club Announces Joint Venture For Immediate Release December 19, 2013 Winnipeg, MB -- Assiniboia Downs is...